(by Jeannette) — I had a heart attack in October of 2005 at the age of 62. At that time I had two stents placed and was placed on Metoprolol (a beta blocker), Enalopril (an Ace Inhibitor), Plavix (a blood thinner) and Lipitor (for cholesterol). I was also given Nitro glycercine I was not given a choice about this, it was (and is) standard protocol for someone who has experienced myocardial infarction (heart attack).
I had a heart attack in October of 2005 at the age of 62. At that time I had two stents placed and was placed on Metoprolol (a beta blocker), Enalopril (an Ace Inhibitor), Plavix (a blood thinner) and Lipitor (for cholesterol). I was also given Nitro glycercine I was not given a choice about this, it was (and is) standard protocol for someone who has experienced myocardial infarction (heart attack).
I had not had high blood pressure prior to my heart attack. I do have a family history of heart disease in that my mom and dad both died from different aspects of heart disease, so apparently in the medical world, it was assumed inevitable that I would have to have high blood pressure. I was told I would be on medication for the rest of my life.
As a health professional myself, I accepted this direction, assuming as most people do, that the Doctor knows best.
My heart attack was a wake-up call for me and I changed my diet, lost weight and began to exercise with alacrity for about 2 1/2 hours 3-4 times a week.
Gradually, I noticed that I had no energy. I would exercise and come home and fall asleep for two hours-Me who never napped in her life! I was lethargic and had lost my zest for life. My husband noticed the changes in me before I did, and they frightened him.
I took an IQ test (standard IQ test) and found that my IQ had dropped by 13 points!
I noticed that, despite the exercise (which is supposed to build strong muscles), my muscles were sore and achy all the time.
I began to experience heart palpitations.
My blood pressure, never high prior to the heart attack, would now drop precipitously low after exercise–to the point that the staff at the Wellness Center refused to allow me to leave the building until it came back to a more ‘normal’ level.
I reationalized all these symptoms and told myself that it was ‘just old age’. After all, I was now over 60.
Then, one day a friend whom I had not seen for a while came to visit. The first words out of her mouth were, “What is WRONG with you??!!”
After a few attempts to explain to her the differences she saw in me, (like I said, just ‘old age’) I began to wonder myself. After all, exercise is supposed to invigorate you and here I was exhausted and falling asleep after a couple of hours of exercise!
I noticed I was dragging around the house, drifting from one chore to another and not really getting anything done. This was NOT me!! I began to wonder what had happened to that energetic, enthusiastic person I used to be. And, suddenly, my ratiionalization of getting old didn’t make sense to me anymore.
I started googling the medications I was taking and looking at the side effects. Sure enough, everything I was experiencing was listed as a side effect of one or another of the drugs I was taking.
I discussed all this with my cardiologist. She was reticent about the medications being the cause of my symptoms. but was willing to work with me when I said I wanted to reduce my medication and eventually get off it entirely. She cautioned me against this, as her entire orientation (as is true for most doctors and particularly cardiologists) is towards drugs and surgery.
As others have done, I began my quest for information, for natural healing methods, for healthy ways of eating, etc.
I found a medical doctor (MD) who does not believe in drugs and switched my care to him.
I found a nutritionist and began following a whole foods nutrition program which I keep in even today.
It took about 6 months, but I did wean myself off all drugs. My cardiologist’s response to this was, “Well, I guess I only need to see you once a year now!” (I had been going to see her every 3 months when on the meds).
All of this occurred during the time period of 2005-2007. I threw away my last bottle of medication in Augsut of 2007 and I have never looked back!
I have been off all medication for almost 5 years now. I recently underwent a series of tests to see how I was doing.
All tests came back ‘normal’, much to my cardiologist’s surprise. The best thing she could say was that I hadn’t gotten any worse, but I know that I am actually BETTER now than I was 5 years ago.
I am enthusiastic and energetic. I am symptom free. I love life. My quality of life is amazing and I feel younger at almost 70 years of age than I did when I had the heart attack at 62.
I would encourage everyone who is currently on medication for heart disease to fully investigate their options and not just sit back and be the effect of our society’s current orientation towards drugs as an answer. Drugs are NOT the answer. Drugs are not natural. They do nothing but suppress symptoms. Drugs do not heal anything. They just make you sicker. And they take away your quality of life.
If my story helps just one person, I will feel like I’ve accomplished something towards changing our society and its viewpoint on health and medicine.
Do you have a story or tip living with high blood pressure that you would like to share »
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(19 votes, average: 4.58 out of 5)
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Ugly side effects from drugs are way more common, and way more difficult to deal with, than even most physicians seem to think.
I am hopeful my blog and the commenters might be of assistance to you as we discuss “Natural, non-toxic methods for treating hypertension”. Check it out each week, and chime in where you might help others!
One thing that occurs to me………have you considered chelation therapy to help your ciruclation?
All the best!!
I want to know more about chelation therapy before I bring up re decreasing my logimax/, vessel due/ and daflon/ – all my doctor prescriptions. Am sure she’ll let me get through tests before advising any thing. Am complaining about taking this “must” medications (according to her) because they are rather expensive and so if I can take the NATURAL way out, I will be able to save some. My medications are the highest ever item in our expenses. If you can do this Private Talkback with me I shall highly appreciate it.
Thank you.
Cecilia T. Morales
Please see my comment above/Reply
I think Chelation is probably a waste of money and not effective nor proven. Focus on nutrition with nothing that contributes to atherosclerosis. A plant based diet does wonders. This is something most Americans don’t want to hear but a piece of valuable advice that can be life saving. Its impossible to get healthier by consuming pro-inflammatory foods.
Excuse me, Jason……….but you “think” based on what?
While there is a lot to be gained from the proper proportions of fruits and vegetables in a healthy diet, as we have discussed, chelation has been a godsend for many suffering from ciruculatory problems, diabetes, and other diseases. I owe the tremendous circulation I have today in large measure to chelation therapy……..so says my cardiologist! May I suggest you talk to people who have undergone a good series of chelation therapy. It would be a real eye and ear opener for you to attend a chelation session with other people who have gone through chelation and get their stories and their perspectives.
Now, that said, I have seen many obese, unhealthy vegetarians. Diet is a very important factor, vegetarianism, however, may or may not be the answer depending on the individual. For most, complete dedication to only fruits and vegetables is impossible. I think you menioned nuts, which are primarily a fat, and one of the healthy fats at that.
All the best!
All the best!
Hi Jason, I respect your right to have your own position on vegetarianism. I would like for you to consider the following however. If you are vegetarian, do you mean veganism? If so, you may wish to pay particular attention to your B12 level. If you are not getting animal protein in your diet, it is vital that you supplement B12. As we mature, it becomes more difficult to absorb adequate amounts of B12, necessary for nerve/brain health; and often depleted by “drug muggers.”. (Suzy Cohen, R.Ph.). Another thing you may want to consider if you use soy products: is the soybean source of your products free of GMO’s? I have read from Dr. Mercola that soy and corn are inundated with GMO’s. Not necessarily healthy. The third item I would like to mention is the fact that the animal source, fish oil, is one of the most beautiful antiflammatory nutrients we have been blessed with. Do a little reading about the inadequacy of the human body to convert flaxseed oil’s ALA into the usable forms: EPA and DHA. DHA especially is needed for brain health. From vegetarian sources, ALA is converted into EPA & DHA at a rate of .4%.* An excellent source of readily convertible ALA is in grass fed beef. Grain fed, not so much.
An important note: neo-nates are incapable of converting vegetable sources of ALA into DHA at all.
*This knowledge was accomplished through radio isotope labeling of molecules of ALA that were traced through the entire metabolic process in human beings.
Hi Cecelia, I am happy to visit with you about chelation therapy if you email me, or ask me some specific questions on my next post which will be on “natural diuretics”. Let me know, and all the best!
Thanks for your story. I was diagnosed with essential hypertension 6 months ago and my doctor put me on 3 different tablets and he ramped up the doses every time I saw him! I was walking round like a zombie with no quality of life whatsoever. He told me that the doses would most likely increase as I got older – I am a 49 year old male. I told my doctor I wanted to reduce my BP naturally and he laughed! He said that in all his years of being a cardiologist he had never come across someone who had reduced their BP in this way! I have not been back to this guy since and was determined to prove him wrong. I am now on 1/2 tablet of one of the medications and am close to ditching this soon. I have reduced my BP through a combination of exercise, diet, juicing and a positive outlook. It can be done naturally but it is not a quick fix and you have to work at it all the time. There are inevitable setbacks but you have to work out what is best for you. One size/approach does not fit all with blood pressure! We are all different.
Your story is bvery similar to mine. I was diagnosed with HBP 8 months ago at age 47. My doctor had a very negative attitude and told me my situation would likely get wore to the point of it being life threatening. I felt like a walking zombie while on Alodipine and Lisinopril. I knew right awat this wasn’t answer as my quality of life was immediately effected. The meds made me feel like a walking zombie and I knew there had to be a better way. The answer was diet and exercise. Slowly but surely I weaned myself off meds and the process took about 6 months.
Good on you, David! And yes, if you don’t stay with it, and you drift back into old bad habits, the hypertension comes back too!
I look forward to your helpful comments on my “Natural Approaches” blog.
All the best!
My story is exactly like Jeannette regarding b/p drugs I tried so many different pills and had such miserable side effects that I changed doctors a few times before finding one that believes less is better.
I’m 85 with 6 stents and double bypass but I take one atentolol, one baby aspirin & a pill for acid reflux.
Considering my age and bad heart I feel pretty good, changed my diet and have a very good attitude. I was in the hospital several times & asked the nurses to explain every pill they brought & then refused most of them. The nurses were understanding but the doctors weren’t. My b/p is still a bit too high but as long as I feel okay we’re leaving my meds alone.
The similarity between my story and yours is in that we both took several medications and the side effects were not pleasant at all, I often said the worst thing about high blood pressure is the medications (not exactly true but you get the idea).
I too did away with me repertoire of BP medications and feel better, many doctors don’t dwell too much about the patient complaints of side effects and or seem skeptic.
Bingo………they don’t believe the actual side effects people experience because the drug companies educate them as to limited side effects. There is a BIG difference between manufacturer’s “known” side effects, and the many more ugly side effects reported by patients! I will list some links on my blog for those who are interested.
All the best!
It’s easy for these doctors to sit on the sidelines writing an Rx as a quick fix for HBP but I wonder how many of these doctors have HBP and take these meds?
Its not too difficult to wean off medication but it takes time and 100% effort. First, be committed to change your diet and exercise. A DASH or Plant based diet are good choices. Eliminate sugar, sodium and oils. This should drop BP significantly. Next opt for supplements to shave off a few more points on your BP. Fish oil, CoQ10 and Magnesium should do the trick and get consistently normal BP readings.
All of the ideas are good. But for some, it is VERY difficult to wean off the “medications”. The rebound effect varies with different drugs. Diuretics are probably the easiest to wean off of and beta and other “blockers” probably the most difficult. I will discuss a weaning method in future posts.
All the best!
I am really enjoying and learning from all the viewpoints raised in the blogs.I feel that doctors keep on the same frightening treadmill through drug company nurturing and because it is what they do. Take it away and their raison d’etre goes too.Surgeons are keen to operate, because that’s what they do. Many patients in the UK underwent unnecessary hysterectomies, where a far simpler, less drastic procedure would have sufficed.
Doctors are quick to trot out the sneering “not scientifically proven” when asked about natural remedies for HBP. But it now transpires that a lot of data for the research of meds, was “adjusted”.
How doctors can sit back and watch so many patients suffer side effects is beyond me.
One of the dangers besides side effects that’s not readily discussed is the fact that anti-hypertensive medications not only typically lower the Systolic number but also the Diastolic. If the diastolic gets too low, it puts you at risk for arrythmias and possible sudden cardiac death.